Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-02
EMIGRATION MATTERS.
THE INVESTIGATION AT CASTLE
GARDEN CONTINUED.
Commissioners Who Sought to be Re-
lieved from Their Duties, but Were
Not Allowed to Resign-Tes-
timony of Witnesses.


regarding Castle Garden management began
this morning Commissioner Taintor, of the |
emigration commission, spoke freely to the
reporters He said be supposed the public
knew that there was no salary attached to
his position. He had held the position since
1881, when he was appointed by Governor
Cornell He had, with Commissioner
Stephenson made frequent applications to
be relieved from his position, but his resig-
nation would not be accepted as an indi- |
vidual. He said the commission should be
national and exist under the same law as the
collector of the port
Louis Meyer, an agent for the North Ger
man Lloyd steamers at Lincoln, Neb., was
the first witness sworn. He, as agent sells
prepaid tickets. He gave to the examiner
his experience in having immigrants trans
ferred from the Garden TO their destinations
in he west. He said he generally makes out
the line on which the immigrants should
take passage, but from som cause which he
suspects originates in the Garden, only about
one in every forty came by the line laid out
in his Instructions He complained to the
general agents of his line mt Chicago and
they informed him that they frequently en-
deavored 10 get matters changed 10y sending
complaint, to Castle Garden, but no redress
a.
from Nebraska to testify in this investigation.
The man from Nebraska stcpp Il down and
went away Ike man disguised at not being
asked more questions. His place was taken
by W H. Macdonald, tie weighmaster in
Castle Garden. His duties are to weigh bag
gage and transfer the same with immigrants
to the various depots He is under the super
vision of Mr.. Doane, the joint agent of the
railways He also collects extra baggage
money. One hundred pounds baggage is al
lowed to each passenger. H gave his testi-
mony very reluctantly. To ten questions
put to him he said II couldn't say, sir" He
was asked if he ever knew of Il woman
being compelled to give up her watch before
she could get her baggage. This question
made Mr. Macdonald very indignant He
scowed at the examiner. H thought the
question most impertinent one. lie only
knew of one case where an employe eXacted
a fee, and in that case the man was dis
charged. H. did not know that a pool ex-
listed letween the baggage handlers, and that
| they divided the money collected from the
| immigrants. He told what he knew about
the mOdA of checking baggage. His testi-
mony did not differ much from that given
| by Doane yesterday on the same subject.
J Mr. Macdonald would not perform any
| mathematician calculiUlOuS lOr IDe eNdlulueT.
/ Mr. Okey asked the witness, for example,
| if an immigrant had two pieces of baggage
one weighing 250 pounds and the other so
pounds, and his destination was Chicago
/ which piece of baggage would the immigrant
| be allowed to take with him, and which
piece would be sent c. O. d. The witness
declined to enighten his hearers, and he was
allowed to step down.
| Commissioner Taintor was then sworn. He
, is chairman Of the Wards Island commit
| tee. The board hold regular meetings once
a month, but have special meetings fire.
quently. After informing the examiner that
{ he was thoroughly conversant with the
| workings Of every department in the Garden,
! excepting the money changing room, he con-
tinued his testimony. He never heard any
complaint from the people of being unfairly
treated at the money exchange He next
/ gave his experience of the restaurant and
its management and prices charged. He
occasionally sent for sandwich to
the luncheon counter and ate it with
relish He at many times visited the res
taurant and tasted the food to see if it was up
to the standard. He said he found the bread
as good as that found in any first class res
taurant in the city. He gave the weight OF
the loaves and the prices, which correspondel
! with those given 10y the manager of the
restaurant yesterday Mr.. Tantor gave q
history of Castle Garden and the commits
sioners of emigration, in which he said that
it was in a spirit of honesty and for the gen
eral welfare of all that the privileges at
Castle Garden We're accorded to the highest
} bidder He said that there were nine COM
missioners, including three eX-otlicio mem
bers-the mayor, the president of the German
society and the president of the Irish lmmi
grafton society Mr.. Taintor gave a history
of Castle Garden which dated back nearly tC
the days Of the famous Jenny Lind.